INCLUSIVENESS
648 South Wayne Ave. Waynesboro, VA 22980
NOVEMBER 2025
CARING
RESPECT
Waynesboro Family YMCA
Preschool Halloween fun!
The Waynesboro Family YMCA Newsletter
(540) 943 - 9622
TOGETHER AT THE Y
INTEGRITY
www.ymcawaynesboro.org
RESPONSIBILITY
OUR MEMBERS
If you have investment accounts and are preparing for your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), consider using a portion of your mandatory distributions to support the Waynesboro Y and reduce your taxable income by donating directly from your IRA. For assistance, please contact your financial advisor.
Dear Waynesboro Family YMCA Members and Friends, We’re excited to introduce our new monthly newsletters - a great way to stay updated on all the latest happenings at the Y! Each month, we'll highlight programs and events, celebrate achievements, and keep you informed about opportunities to grow in spirit, mind, and body. Thank you for your continued support in making the YMCA a cornerstone of health and community in Waynesboro. With your help, we look forward to building on our strong foundation and creating many meaningful moments together. With gratitude, Anne Hudlow
The Waynesboro Family YMCA would like to thank our members for their continued support. Please stop by on Monday, November 10th and Tuesday, November 11th, get a workout in, register for a raffle and have a treat! We look forward to seeing you and appreciate all you do. Dawn O'Neill Director of Membership and Community Engagement
FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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Join us in wishing Erika Hahn a happy 96th birthday! She is not only our eldest member, but also holds the distinction of being one of our first members! Did you know her husband helped build the Y? Mrs. Erika has been coming to the Waynesboro YMCA since 1957- that's SIXTY EIGHT YEARS of continuous membership!!! Mrs. Hahn continues to stay active, swimming three days a week and is still full of advice and tips that she loves to share with our lap swimmers! We are thankful for this special member!
WFYMCA MEMBER Joe Huffman
WFYMCA Fitness Floor Coordinator, Tre Woodson and Erika Hahn
Happy Birthday, Mrs. Erika
NO JOINING FEE All month!
We are so thankful for our generous community! We’re grateful for the continued support, which allows us to grow and serve our community. As you plan your year-end contributions, please consider including the Y in your plans.
Anne Hudlow, Executive Director of the Waynesboro YMCA, offers heartfelt remarks in honor of the 39th Annual Gala. Read more about the gala on page 6
COUNT ME IN!
Need more information about our Y’s giving opportunities?
"Don't give excuses... all it takes is an hour a day to improve every aspect of your life."
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Member Appreciation November 10 & 11
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The 27th Annual Waynesboro Family YMCA Turkey Trot
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Register Today and Save! https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Waynesboro/WaynesboroYMCATurkeyTrot THh fun begins at 8:15 AM - Little Gobbler Race & 9:00 AM -5K From $15 - $35 Cost increases to $40/adult runner for registrants signing up after November 17th! Join your friends and family for a morning of Thanksgiving Day fun, fitness and community spirit at the Y!
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Alongside Josh Cole and Marcia Geiger, Dave Mirra graciously accepts this surprise recognition.
Thank you to everyone who supported our 39th Annual Waynesboro Y Gala: BE THE LYGHT! This event continues to be a wonderful tradition, and we couldn’t have done it without the generous support of our sponsors, honorees, online and live auction donors, attendees, volunteers, and Y leadership who made it such a success. We are also grateful to our wonderful community, which supports our mission to provide vital programming that helps us all thrive through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
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The Waynesboro YMCA was honored to recognize several very special members of our Y community! Their impact has made a immeasurable difference, and we are ever grateful. (From left: Bill Hausrath, Person of the Year; Urbie Nash, Volunteer of the Year; Liza Scallet, Volunteer of the Year; and Senetha Edwards, Youth of the Year.)
Senetha Edwards is a homegrown success story. For the past 13 years, Edwards has had some sort of affiliation with the Waynesboro Family YMCA. As a 4-year-old, she was a kid participating in the YMCA’s childcare program. When she aged out of childcare, she stayed with the program as a teen volunteer. As soon as she got old enough to work, Edwards joined the staff. However, the job to her is not simply about collecting a paycheck. Edwards is a difference maker. “This young lady is going to move mountains one day,” said Rebecca Patton, the Waynesboro YMCA Childcare Director. “It has been my honor and privilege to watch her grow and blossom. I could sit and talk for hours and tell stories about her accomplishments and the lives she’s already touched.” That’s why Edwards was honored as the Youth of the Year at the Waynesboro Family YMCA’s annual Be the LYGHT Gala this fall. Edwards found out the good news over the summer from Waynesboro Family YMCA executive director Anne Hudlow. “It was an incredible honor for us to recognize Senetha as our Youth of the Year,” Hudlow said. “When the selection committee met to decide on this year’s honorees, the choice to recognize her was made quickly and unanimously. There was no question she deserved it.” The award means a lot to her. “I was super excited and surprised,” Edwards said. “It means a lot. It’s like a second home for me. I’m glad that people thought that I deserved it.” Hudlow believes the youth of the year award went to a deserving recipient. "Every day that Senetha is at the Y, either working or volunteering she makes a positive impact,” Hudlow said, continuing. “Through her warm smile and the way she connects with our childcare kiddos, members and staff, she brings joy to everyone around her. Senetha is truly a bright light, destined to do amazing things in this world - and she already has.” Patton agreed. “As a teen volunteer, I watched as she worked with a young lady on sight words day after day,” Patton said. “Then that child had that light bulb moment where the child was successful. She has poured her heart into the Y and the kids. It makes me so proud to see how she has become a light for so many. I can’t think of anyone who deserves this honor more than our sweet, smiling Senetha. Keep moving mountains, girl. You’ve got a whole village standing with you. This is what the YMCA is all about.” For the Y staff, watching Edwards flourish at the Y provides a special sense of satisfaction. “As a Y family, watching Senetha grow into such a remarkable young woman has been a blessing we cherish,” Hudlow said. “I hope this recognition made her feel as special as she truly is, because it was certainly a meaningful moment for all of us.”
City National Bank executive Dallas Kayser presents a check for $5,000 in honor of Charlie Fairchild’s outstanding tenure with City National Bank. Charlie and his wife, Karen, accept the gift on behalf of the Waynesboro Family YMCA. We are grateful for this generous donation, and echo the well-deserved praise for Charlie and the indelible mark he has left on our Y community.
YOUTH OF THE YEAR
By Chris Lassiter
What a fabulous Y Gala Committee we had this year! (From left: Y Board Member Vicky Ferreira; Y Director of Membership and Community Impact, Dawn O’Neill; and Committee Member, Sarah Severs. (Not Pictured: Alyson Wood, Ana Cole, Maggie Van Huss, Pam Leech, and Connie Shannon.)
Senetha Edwards was one of the volunteers honored at the 2025 Waynesboro YMCA Gala. For Edwards, the YMCA is a second home.
Photos by Eleanor Rixey
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Stay Tuned! More to follow for the 40th Annual Gala celebration!
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Senetha Edwards
A table of special guests and sponsors, including Rick and Mary Kane, of Westhills LTD Realtors, our Childcare Champion Sponsor.
Provided $20,000 in scholarships Had 134 children enrolled Provided 17 received free or reduced-price tuition thanks to a Mixed Delivery Grant Partnered with the Office on Youth to teach bike safety 60 plus hours of designated bike safety lessons 79 school age participants received licenses to ride 27 kiddos graduated to two wheels Almost 40 hours of bike riding just for fun Partnered with the Waynesboro Kiwanis Club to have a summer carnival for over 80 children. And More!
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We are so grateful to the Dupont Community Credit Union (DCCU) Cares Foundation for their support of the Waynesboro Family YMCA. Their gift of $5,000 helps provide youth memberships and childcare scholarships, opening doors for local families and giving every child the chance to learn, grow, and thrive. It is an honor to be chosen by such a community-minded and generous foundation. Because of partners like DCCU, we are able to continue building a healthier, more connected, and more accessible community for all.
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MORE SPECIAL MOMENTS
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS GALA SPONSORS
DID YOU KNOW? In 2025 Y childcare has...
VIP Sponsor Dr. Todd Brandt of Blue Ridge Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, with his wife Kristen and friends, enjoyed Silly Shotz and a fun evening out!
Band sponsor, RE/MAX Advantage agent Ana Duarte Cole with her guests.
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Waynesboro Y Info! 648 South Wayne Avenue Waynesboro, VA 22980 Phone: 540.943.9622 info@ymcawaynesboro.org Monday – Friday: 5 a.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
November 12
December 3
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Powerlifting Club Coming Soon!
Couch to 5K underway!
FITNESS UPDATES
November 26
December 10
Instructor Highlight: Emily Gray
Some of our Couch to 5K gang prepare for Saturday practice. The energy in this group lights up the gym before taking off strong onto the Greenway.
Riders prepare for competition! Y Madness starts soon. Let's get to the championships once again! Sign up at expresso.com/register Don't forget to join the challenge online or on the bikes. Scan to register as a rider:
Saturdays 9:30 - 10:30 AM November 1 - December 6 ( No class November 15 ) Fees: $65 Members $95 Program Members Register in person, by phone at ( 540 ) 943 - 9622 or online at ymcawaynesboro.org No commitment for new participants. Your first class is on us!
Tai Chi and Qigong with Bonner Odell
Movement Agility Strength Class
Look for a Powerlifting Club coming soon to the Waynesboro Y! New-to-us personal trainer and former Crossfit Gym owner Chris Morrissey brings phenomenal coaching to this exciting new quest for personal best!
Travis Harris has been a fan of Waynesboro Y since his grandmother and parents brought him for swimming lessons as a kid. When Nautilus arrived, he and his dad would come in the evenings to work out together. Summers during college he was a Y camp counselor. And always, always there was basketball. We are so blessed because he now continues to be a strong part of our Y by joining the Fitness Team.
Emily Gray is an accomplished yoga instructor offering beginner through intermediate classes right here at our Y. Her confident composure creates a sense of serenity that fills the studio. With a deep understanding of alignment, breath, and mindful movement, Emily guides each participant to discover their own strength and calm. Her yoga instruction earns rave reviews from members and fellow teachers alike.
November 19
Welcome Travis Harris
Scan to Register
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Join instructor Daniel Linkins for MAS class to achieve your personal best with great coaching and fantastic group energy! Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:00 AM Sign up 24 hours in advance to reserve your spot and get class info. Drop in welcome!
AQUATICS IS MAKING A SPLASH!
AQUATICS UPDATES
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Corner
If you are looking for a good workout and good-for-you movement challenge, join Lilyann Chambers for Zumba class! You can catch her here at WFYMCA bright and early at 8 AM on Tuesdays, and on your lunch hour at 11:45 AM on Thursdays!
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Liza Scallet leads Chair Yoga, a popular class that delivers true body conditioning. In this unique class, you will receive both exertion for stabilization, strength and recuperation for ease around joints.
SPORTS NEWS
By Eleanor Rixey
Families flip for youth gymnastics!
ADULT BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Childcare staff stuff food bags for families in need
This week, our childcare staff finished packing weekend food bags for fifteen kiddos across nine families in our childcare program! Each bag includes two breakfasts, two lunches, one family dinner, and several snacks per child - helping ensure that our little ones and their families have nutritious meals over the weekend. Our goal is to continue this effort throughout the month of November to support our families during these challenging times. We anticipate the number of families in need will grow next week, especially since school was out for two days and some families didn’t get a chance to return their sign-up forms. If you’d like to help or donate toward this effort, please contact Rebecca Patton at (540) 943-9622, Ext. 208. Every contribution, big or small, helps us make a difference for our families and children. Thank you for being part of this caring community!
Update by Ms. Becca
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Remembering a Great Season
YOUTH PROGRAM UPDATES
Saturday mornings our fitness studio is overrun with tumblers and gymnasts. It is such a delight to watch these kiddos practice cartwheels, handstands and forward rolls. The final mini-mester of gymnastics is underway but stay tuned! This program will return in 2026! Find out more at ymcawaynesboro.org
The Waynesboro Family YMCA Adult Men’s Basketball League wrapped up with an exhilarating showdown between Crozet Crazy and Hoosier Daddy during the championship game. From the moment the game started both teams put forth an impressive display of skills and teamwork. Crozet Crazy took the lead but Hoosier Daddy did not make it easy for them to stay ahead. Ultimately Crozet Crazy won the championship with a final score of 66 to 50. The real winners, though, were Chris Lancaster and WFYMCA Executive Director, Anne Hudlow. Lancaster began leading the sports program in February of 2025. Hudlow saw the potential in him before he did. When the position opened, Hudlow knew immediately that Lancaster was the perfect candidate. Lancaster said, “Anne had seen me. She knows that I know all about the program. She was like, ‘You'd be the perfect fit for the program. You want to try it out?’ I was like, ‘yes.’” Lancaster started on the maintenance crew seventeen years ago. Currently, he oversees that department. During that time he has worked closely with the other Sports Program Directors, as a coach and referee. After seventeen years you could easily lose passion and interest. But, not for Lancaster. At the WFYMCA he keeps finding ways to grow and develop. Stepping into this new role was natural for him. For Lancaster it’s all about making connections and giving back. “All the kids love me,” he said. “That’s a very good feeling.” Lancaster understands that sports programming is important no matter what age you are. He can help create that safe space where children and adults can have positive experiences. Adults are carrying things with them and they need a healthy outlet just as much as the children do. In the nearly two decades of his experience he’s seen how programs like this impact a person’s lifetime. “I’ve seen how it’s changed… Actually there’s people that are younger than me [now]. I've watched them grow into the game.” Waynesboro hasn’t always been his home. He moved here from Washington D.C. when he was 17. He has chosen to stay, lay down roots and make sure he does his best to cultivate a passion for sports in his adopted community. It’s not something that just anyone can do. Why does he do it? For Lancaster the answer is simple, “Because I love to do it.” The WFYMCA has provided a place where he can evolve in his purpose and passion. It’s all about “Trying to make a difference.” His commitment and consistency reflected that dedication.
Mini - Allstars Basketball Program
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OUR COMMUNITY IN ACTION
Thank you "SOW" MUCH to Project GROWS for partnering with us to bring an amazing selection of locally sourced produce, meat, and dairy products to our members and our community! Project Grows accepts SNAP and EBT benefits, you can pay what you can with their sliding scale. Each of our childcare kiddos received $5 of FREE veggies every visit! At the Y, we believe strongly in youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, and knowing how hard Project Grows works to provide affordable and accessible groceries to children and families in our area, we hope to welcome them back again soon so that this partnership can continue to grow and provide for our community. Thank you!
Chris Lancaster is a familiar face for the adults who enjoy playing basketball. He quickly became a new favorite for the tots enrolled in the Mini-Allstars Basketball League. They had a great season and everyone finished feeling like the champions they are! Thank you Chris for all you do to create and sustain programs that encourage health, good conduct and respect for people of all ages. You are our Sports Programs All Star!